Hartley Wintney successfully negotiated their fourth tie in this season's FA Cup - three of them against higher league opposition - to take their place in the 3rd Qualifying Round of the prestigious trophy for the first time in the club's history.

In front of a sizeable crowd on a gloriously sunny and warm first of October, the home side were matched against Evo-Stick Southern League Division 1 South & West side Bideford AFC, who were sitting third in their division. It was clear that any surprise factor for the home side would have gone by now after wins away at Alresford Town and at home to Southern Premier Bashley, so this was always going to be a very tough call, even for in-form Hartley Wintney of the Combined Counties Division 1.

The home side started well but Bideford were exerting plenty of their own pressure, particularly down their right wing, giving left-back Andy Newcombe plenty of work to do. Chances were created at both ends but it was a relatively scrappy game with both sides looking for the longer ball to cut their forwards free. As the visitors continued to press, Hartley's defence and midfield were forced deeper, and with Hartley's forwards being well marshalled, they found it difficult to find space and collect the balls being played out of defence.

With the half-time whistle due within a couple of minutes, it was Bideford's pressure that finally paid off for them. Keeper Lee Allen rose to claim a high ball but was unable to grasp the ball cleanly under a strong challenge. The ball ran loose and at first it seemed the danger might be cleared, but it fell to Bideford's Kevin Squires who struck the ball firmly passed the recovering Allen and the defenders on the line.

It was a cruel blow to the home side, who had matched their visitors well and could have scored themselves, but having gone behind for the first time in the Cup this season, and against strong opposition, it was going to take a huge effort and a great deal of belief for Hartley to get something from the game. They began the second half in confident mood and restricted the visitors to half chances while creating some better openings of their own. There were less gaps and we looked stronger, while the visitors continued to dispute many of the decisions they believed were going against them.

The equaliser came on 55 minutes. The ball was headed up high by one of the Bideford central defenders and was dropping some way behind him. As Jermaine Hamilton moved at pace towards what seemed a lost cause as the ball looked to be heading over the byline, the keeper appeared to hesitate then came to close off what appeared to be an impossible angle. Talking with Jermaine afterwards, he was aware that nobody was up with him and felt he could do nothing else but have a go on the half volley. From the acutest of angles he managed to thread the ball between the onrushing keeper and near post, and while nine times out of ten it would have gone right across the goal, there was just enough angle and swerve to take it inside the far post.

Lifted by the equaliser and great vocal suppport from the home crowd, the confidence in the home side visibly increased even more and it was just 5 minutes later that Ryan Stephens went on one of his jinking runs into the box and, as the keeper came out, Ryan swivelled to take the ball from his grasp and was taken down with the ref ideally placed and he showed no hesitation in awarding the penalty. Up steps Jermaine Hamilton, clearly a lot calmer than most of the watching home fans, to stroke the penalty hard and low to the keeper's left and into the bottom corner.

While Hartley went on to hit the post twice, including a rasping drive by Dean Peltohaka after a terrific pass by Ryan Stephens, the visitors were mostly restricted to relatively long-range shots, although the latter stages certainly required some more excellent defending from joint Man of the Match Darryl Bloxham, fellow centre-back Chris Paterson and fullbacks Nathan Stamp and Andrew Newcombe. Keeper Lee Allen had also by now long dispelled any anguish over the first-half spill with some timely clearances and good handling, though thankfully he had few real saves to make.

Great scenes again at the final whistle as Hartley Wintney pulled off another unlikely cup shock. Jermaine Hamilton was voted joint Man of the Match along with 'Blocko'. [KOB]

SQUAD: Lee Allen, Nathan Stamp, Andrew Newcombe, Chris Paterson, Darryl Bloxham, Jack Coventry, Martin Williams (C), Dean Peltohaka, Jermaine Hamilton, Ryan Stephens, Ben Dillon. Subs: Dan Tillson, Josh Daniels (on for Stephens), Oliver Bridges, Nick Kingston (on for Jermaine Hamilton), Dan Brownlie (on for Ben Dillon).